PURPOSE: This study is a descriptive research study to measure the quality of life of those who suffer from breast cancer and take the chemotherapy. METHOD: The Subjects were 70 breast cancer patients who took the chemotherapy from September 2 to October 31, 2003. Quality of life was measured by Ferrell's measurements. RESULTS: Quality of life indicators were spiritual domain=6.44, physical domain= 5.45, social domain=4.15, and mental domain= 3. 95. Whole quality of life was 4. 68 out of 10 points. The quality of life of those with a practicing religion was significantly higher than those without(F=3.88, P=0.026). Subjects who were less than 2 months post-operation had higher points in the physical domain than those who were more than 2 months post-operation (t= 2.76, p=0.007). Subjects who had less than 4 treatments of chemotherapy had higher points in the physical domain than those who had more than 4 treatments of chemotherapy (t=2.03, p=0.046). COLCLUSION: The results of this study serve as a meaningful source to promote quality of life of breast cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy. The results can also be applied to the development of education programs and counseling materials for chemotherapy patients. Health care strategy can also raise the quality of life of brest cancer patients.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Counseling ; Delivery of Health Care ; Drug Therapy* ; Education ; Humans ; Quality of Life*

PURPOSE: This study is a descriptive research study to measure the quality of life of those who suffer from breast cancer and take the chemotherapy. METHOD: The Subjects were 70 breast cancer patients who took the chemotherapy from September 2 to October 31, 2003. Quality of life was measured by Ferrell's measurements. RESULTS: Quality of life indicators were spiritual domain=6.44, physical domain= 5.45, social domain=4.15, and mental domain= 3. 95. Whole quality of life was 4. 68 out of 10 points. The quality of life of those with a practicing religion was significantly higher than those without(F=3.88, P=0.026). Subjects who were less than 2 months post-operation had higher points in the physical domain than those who were more than 2 months post-operation (t= 2.76, p=0.007). Subjects who had less than 4 treatments of chemotherapy had higher points in the physical domain than those who had more than 4 treatments of chemotherapy (t=2.03, p=0.046). COLCLUSION: The results of this study serve as a meaningful source to promote quality of life of breast cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy. The results can also be applied to the development of education programs and counseling materials for chemotherapy patients. Health care strategy can also raise the quality of life of brest cancer patients.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Counseling ; Delivery of Health Care ; Drug Therapy* ; Education ; Humans ; Quality of Life*

PURPOSE: Because acute bacterial prostatitis (ABP) is an urgent condition of the prostate but prostatic massage is contraindicated at the onset of ABP, clinical symptoms and urine tests are used for diagnosis. In this study, we compared the clinical symptoms and treatment outcomes of patients with negative urine culture results, to whom only empirical antibiotics were administered, with those of patients with positive urine culture results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were divided into two groups according to the results of urine culture. Then, the clinical symptoms and course of each group were analyzed. In addition, age, symptoms, antibiotics, mean inpatient and outpatient length of treatment, and the treatment outcome of each group were also analyzed. RESULTS: Of the total 144 patients, the positive urine culture group consisted of 51 patients (35.4%) and the most frequent bacterial strain causing ABP was reported to be Escherichia coli. Fever and storage symptoms were significantly more common in the positive urine culture group than in the negative urine culture group (p=0.031 and 0.047, respectively). Only inpatient treatment was significant longer in the positive urine culture group than in the negative urine culture group (p<0.05). The mean length of treatment of inpatients was 4.8+/-2.6 days and 6.2+/-2.9 days in the two groups, respectively. No sequelae such as prostatic abscess or chronic prostatitis were found in either group. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of ABP, the use of empirical antibiotics can be expected to have sufficient effects regardless of bacterial culture. However, it is hard to determine the causative bacteria of ABP by urine culture results only.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Escherichia coli ; Fever ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Massage ; Outpatients ; Prostate ; Prostatitis ; Sprains and Strains ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: Few studies have addressed gonadal and sexual dysfunctions in childhood cancer survivors. We evaluated the prevalence rates and risk factors for gonadal failure among adolescent/young adult childhood cancer survivors and their sexual function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were childhood cancer survivors aged 15-29 years who had completed therapy more than 2 years ago. Demographic and medical characteristics were obtained from the patients’ medical records. In addition, hormonal evaluation and semen analysis were performed and sexual function was evaluated via questionnaire. RESULTS: The study included 105 survivors (57 males, 48 females), of which 61 were adults (age > 19 years) and 44 were adolescents. In both males and females, the proportion of survivors with low sex hormone levels did not differ among age groups or follow-up period. Thirteen female subjects (27.1%) needed sex hormone replacement, while five males subjects (8.8%) were suspected of having hypogonadism, but none were receiving sex hormone replacement. Of 27 semen samples, 14 showed azospermia or oligospermia. The proportion of normospermia was lower in the high cyclophosphamide equivalent dose (CED) group (CED ≥ 8,000 mg/m2) than the low CED group (27.3% vs. 62.5%, p=0.047). Among adults, none were married and only 10 men (35.7%) and eight women (34.3%) were in a romantic relationship. Though a significant proportion (12.0% of males and 5.3% of females) of adolescent survivors had experienced sexual activity, 13.6% had not experienced sex education. CONCLUSION: The childhood cancer survivors in this study showed a high prevalence of gonadal/sexual dysfunction; accordingly, proper strategies are needed to manage these complications.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Cyclophosphamide ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gonads* ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Male ; Medical Records ; Oligospermia ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sex Education ; Sexual Behavior ; Survivors*

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disease that culminates in respiratory failure and death due to irreversible scarring of the distal lung. While initially considered a chronic inflammatory disorder, the aberrant function of the alveolar epithelium is now acknowledged as playing a central role in the pathophysiology of IPF. This study aimed to investigate the regenerative capacity of alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells using IPF-derived alveolar organoids and to examine the effects of disease progression on this capacity. Methods: Lung tissues from three pneumothorax patients and six IPF patients (early and advanced stages) were obtained through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and lung transplantation. HTII-280+ cells were isolated from CD31-CD45-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)+ cells in the distal lungs of IPF and pneumothorax patients using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and resuspended in 48-well plates to establish IPF-derived alveolar organoids. Immunostaining was used to verify the presence of AT2 cells. Results: FACS sorting yielded approximately 1% of AT2 cells in early IPF tissue, and the number decreased as the disease progressed, in contrast to 2.7% in pneumothorax. Additionally, the cultured organoids in the IPF groups were smaller and less numerous compared to those from pneumothorax patients. The colony forming efficiency decreased as the disease advanced. Immunostaining results showed that the IPF organoids expressed less surfactant protein C (SFTPC) compared to the pneumothorax group and contained keratin 5+ (KRT5+) cells. Conclusion This study confirmed that the regenerative capacity of AT2 cells in IPF decreases as the disease progresses, with IPF-derived AT2 cells inherently exhibiting functional abnormalities and altered differentiation plasticity.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disease that culminates in respiratory failure and death due to irreversible scarring of the distal lung. While initially considered a chronic inflammatory disorder, the aberrant function of the alveolar epithelium is now acknowledged as playing a central role in the pathophysiology of IPF. This study aimed to investigate the regenerative capacity of alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells using IPF-derived alveolar organoids and to examine the effects of disease progression on this capacity. Methods: Lung tissues from three pneumothorax patients and six IPF patients (early and advanced stages) were obtained through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and lung transplantation. HTII-280+ cells were isolated from CD31-CD45-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)+ cells in the distal lungs of IPF and pneumothorax patients using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and resuspended in 48-well plates to establish IPF-derived alveolar organoids. Immunostaining was used to verify the presence of AT2 cells. Results: FACS sorting yielded approximately 1% of AT2 cells in early IPF tissue, and the number decreased as the disease progressed, in contrast to 2.7% in pneumothorax. Additionally, the cultured organoids in the IPF groups were smaller and less numerous compared to those from pneumothorax patients. The colony forming efficiency decreased as the disease advanced. Immunostaining results showed that the IPF organoids expressed less surfactant protein C (SFTPC) compared to the pneumothorax group and contained keratin 5+ (KRT5+) cells. Conclusion This study confirmed that the regenerative capacity of AT2 cells in IPF decreases as the disease progresses, with IPF-derived AT2 cells inherently exhibiting functional abnormalities and altered differentiation plasticity.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disease that culminates in respiratory failure and death due to irreversible scarring of the distal lung. While initially considered a chronic inflammatory disorder, the aberrant function of the alveolar epithelium is now acknowledged as playing a central role in the pathophysiology of IPF. This study aimed to investigate the regenerative capacity of alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells using IPF-derived alveolar organoids and to examine the effects of disease progression on this capacity. Methods: Lung tissues from three pneumothorax patients and six IPF patients (early and advanced stages) were obtained through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and lung transplantation. HTII-280+ cells were isolated from CD31-CD45-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)+ cells in the distal lungs of IPF and pneumothorax patients using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and resuspended in 48-well plates to establish IPF-derived alveolar organoids. Immunostaining was used to verify the presence of AT2 cells. Results: FACS sorting yielded approximately 1% of AT2 cells in early IPF tissue, and the number decreased as the disease progressed, in contrast to 2.7% in pneumothorax. Additionally, the cultured organoids in the IPF groups were smaller and less numerous compared to those from pneumothorax patients. The colony forming efficiency decreased as the disease advanced. Immunostaining results showed that the IPF organoids expressed less surfactant protein C (SFTPC) compared to the pneumothorax group and contained keratin 5+ (KRT5+) cells. Conclusion This study confirmed that the regenerative capacity of AT2 cells in IPF decreases as the disease progresses, with IPF-derived AT2 cells inherently exhibiting functional abnormalities and altered differentiation plasticity.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disease that culminates in respiratory failure and death due to irreversible scarring of the distal lung. While initially considered a chronic inflammatory disorder, the aberrant function of the alveolar epithelium is now acknowledged as playing a central role in the pathophysiology of IPF. This study aimed to investigate the regenerative capacity of alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells using IPF-derived alveolar organoids and to examine the effects of disease progression on this capacity. Methods: Lung tissues from three pneumothorax patients and six IPF patients (early and advanced stages) were obtained through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and lung transplantation. HTII-280+ cells were isolated from CD31-CD45-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)+ cells in the distal lungs of IPF and pneumothorax patients using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and resuspended in 48-well plates to establish IPF-derived alveolar organoids. Immunostaining was used to verify the presence of AT2 cells. Results: FACS sorting yielded approximately 1% of AT2 cells in early IPF tissue, and the number decreased as the disease progressed, in contrast to 2.7% in pneumothorax. Additionally, the cultured organoids in the IPF groups were smaller and less numerous compared to those from pneumothorax patients. The colony forming efficiency decreased as the disease advanced. Immunostaining results showed that the IPF organoids expressed less surfactant protein C (SFTPC) compared to the pneumothorax group and contained keratin 5+ (KRT5+) cells. Conclusion This study confirmed that the regenerative capacity of AT2 cells in IPF decreases as the disease progresses, with IPF-derived AT2 cells inherently exhibiting functional abnormalities and altered differentiation plasticity.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disease that culminates in respiratory failure and death due to irreversible scarring of the distal lung. While initially considered a chronic inflammatory disorder, the aberrant function of the alveolar epithelium is now acknowledged as playing a central role in the pathophysiology of IPF. This study aimed to investigate the regenerative capacity of alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells using IPF-derived alveolar organoids and to examine the effects of disease progression on this capacity. Methods: Lung tissues from three pneumothorax patients and six IPF patients (early and advanced stages) were obtained through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and lung transplantation. HTII-280+ cells were isolated from CD31-CD45-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)+ cells in the distal lungs of IPF and pneumothorax patients using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and resuspended in 48-well plates to establish IPF-derived alveolar organoids. Immunostaining was used to verify the presence of AT2 cells. Results: FACS sorting yielded approximately 1% of AT2 cells in early IPF tissue, and the number decreased as the disease progressed, in contrast to 2.7% in pneumothorax. Additionally, the cultured organoids in the IPF groups were smaller and less numerous compared to those from pneumothorax patients. The colony forming efficiency decreased as the disease advanced. Immunostaining results showed that the IPF organoids expressed less surfactant protein C (SFTPC) compared to the pneumothorax group and contained keratin 5+ (KRT5+) cells. Conclusion This study confirmed that the regenerative capacity of AT2 cells in IPF decreases as the disease progresses, with IPF-derived AT2 cells inherently exhibiting functional abnormalities and altered differentiation plasticity.

Percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting is widely used for ischemic heart disease. Because stent loss, which occurs rarely during the procedure, might have dire consequences, such as bleeding, stent embolism, acute myocardial infarction, emergency coronary artery bypass graft, and death, appropriate treatment is needed as soon as stent loss occurs. We report three cases of stent loss which were successfully treated with three different non-surgical methods.
Coronary Artery Bypass ; Embolism ; Emergencies ; Hemorrhage ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Stents ; Transplants